Let’s do some Big Game Hunting, starting with the top five games on the schedule in Week 13 of college football. (All times Eastern)

1. No. 1 Notre Dame at USC (8 p.m., ABC). The Irish (11-0) have been even better in games played away from home this season, particularly on defense. Navy (in Dublin) and Oklahoma (in Norman) have the only two touchdowns scored on ND's defense outside of South Bend.

Surely the Trojans (7-4) will have to do better than one TD to have a shot at keeping Brian Kelly's team out of the BCS title game.

"It's like being selected for the playoffs," Kelly said. "Now you know you're in if you take care of business."

For Manti Te'o and the Irish defense, that means pressuring freshman quarterback Max Wittek — subbing for injured Matt Barkley — and keeping Wittek from getting anything going downfield with wide receiver Marqise Lee. As most of you know by now, Wittek said flatly this week, "We're going to win this ballgame."

2. No. 6 Florida at No. 10 Florida State (3:30 p.m., ABC). There are times when the theory that any SEC team is better than a non-SEC team with the same record is tested — severely — and this is one of them.

The 10-1 Gators are fourth in the BCS standings; the 10-1 Seminoles are 10th. The Gators have a much more realistic path to the BCS title game: beat FSU, watch Notre Dame lose to USC, and—boom—that should be all it takes.

So why is FSU favored by a touchdown?

Better talent, that's why.

There's little question that's the case when you look at these two offenses. Both defenses are outstanding, but FSU's EJ Manuel clearly is a more explosive quarterback than UF's Jeff Driskel. The Seminoles' defense is ranked No. 1 in the country, allowing just 236.2 yards per game. Florida's D is ranked No. 4 (281.0).

3. No. 20 Michigan at No. 4 Ohio State (noon, ABC). Is there really so much separating these bitter rivals? The Wolverines (8-3, 6-1 Big Ten) have lost to Alabama, Notre Dame and Nebraska, all outside of Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes (11-0, 7-0) haven't faced nearly as demanding a schedule, and their performance in last week's overtime win at Wisconsin left much to be desired.

OSU quarterback Braxton Miller looked terrible on passing downs — and now he's about to face the nation's top-ranked pass defense. That'll make Miller's running as important as ever.

Michigan's offense has cranked out 115 points in three games with Devin Gardner at quarterback in place of Denard Robinson, who has a right arm injury. The Wolverines are rolling — and handing the Buckeyes their first loss would be enormously satisfying.

4. No. 11 Stanford at No. 15 UCLA (6:30 p.m., FOX). Who needs the likes of Oregon and Southern cal for excitement when you can have the Cardinal (9-2, 5-1 Pac-12) and the Bruins (9-2, 6-2) twice in six days?

That's what's going to happen if Stanford follows up its upset of Oregon in Eugene with a victory as a very slim favorite in Los Angeles. That would give the Cardinal the North title over the Ducks; UCLA clinched the South with last week's victory over USC.

"I don't know who we're going to play (for the league title)," UCLA coach Jim Mora said. "It doesn't even matter. All that matters is Saturday."

5. Missouri at No. 9 Texas A&M (7 p.m., ESPN2). There's one reason, and one reason only, why you should — no, must — give this game a look. That's right, folks, it's because the Tigers (5-6, 2-5 SEC) are one win from bowl eligibility, and what could be more exciting than that?

Yeah, right. This is all about Johnny Football, Johnny Hero, Johnny Superman — it's about Johnny Manziel, superstar freshman quarterback for the Aggies (9-2, 5-2). If Manziel has another good game and the Aggies win, it's got to be Johnny's Heisman.

Oh, by the way: Mizzou owns A&M. What? Yep, it's true. The Tigers won in College Station each of the past two seasons, and have won three straight and five of six against their former Big 12 rivals.

Four of a Kind: Other state finals

1. What a weird game Georgia Tech at No. 3 Georgia (noon, ESPN) has turned out to be, with the Yellow Jackets (6-5, 5-3 ACC) and Bulldogs (10-1, 7-1 SEC) already locked into their conference championship games. But there's nothing weird about what Mark Richt and his boys are trying to do: win "state," win the SEC title game next, get to Miami to play for it all.

2. Well, No. 5 Oregon at No. 16 Oregon State (3 p.m., Pac-12 Network) sure isn't all it could've been. Not long ago at all, the Ducks (10-1, 7-1 Pac-12) and Beavers (8-2, 6-2) both were entertaining thoughts of the Rose Bowl and even the BCS title game.

Now? Only the Ducks have a shot at Pasadena (but no shot at Miami). And even that is out of their hands. Best case: Chip Kelly's offense heats back up, Stanford cools off—and what some believe is the nation's best team is back in business.

"I don't know how you can add any more juice to this game," Dabo Swinney said.

4. No. 14 Oklahoma (8-2, 6-1 Big 12) merely allowed the most yards in program history last weekend at West Virginia: 778 (wow!) in a crazy 50-49 victory. But the Sooners are plenty motivated for this one, with revenge on the brain after their 34-point defeat in Stillwater in 2011. Plus, the Big 12 title will belong to OU if it knocks off No. 22 Oklahoma State (7-3, 5-3) in Norman (3:30 p.m., ESPN) and K-State falls at home to Texas on Dec. 21. Hey, did we mention this is Bedlam? You never want to miss Bedlam.

Three Things I Don’t Want to Know Yet But Am Afraid I Already Do

1. Second-ranked Alabama (10-1, 6-1 SEC) is back in the saddle in the BCS title race; Auburn (3-8, 0-7) is gasping and wheezing. The Tide are riding the peak of an emotional wave; the Tigers have been lost at sea since September. The Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa (3:30 p.m., CBS) will be hard to watch for all but the thickest-skinned fans of brutality and gore.

2. It was difficult for Penn State (7-4, 5-2 Big Ten) to begin such an emotional season with that loss at home to Ohio, an also-ran from the MAC. But it'll be an even bigger letdown when the Nittany Lions end the season with a loss at home to Wisconsin (3:30 p.m., ESPN2), even though the Badgers (7-4, 4-3) are two-time defending league champs and still have a shot at the Rose Bowl. Montee Ball will set the FBS career record for touchdowns early — and seal things late if need be.

3. In an epic clash of titans with matching 0-7 records in SEC play, Tennessee (4-7) will get off the schneid vs. Kentucky (2-9) in Knoxville (12:21, SEC Network). And Volunteer Nation shall rejoice. Or not.

Two Underdogs You Definitely Should Bet Your House On

1. Duke plus-7 vs. Miami (Fla.) (12:30 p.m., ACC Network). If I'm a Hurricanes player and my school just forfeited my right to play in a conference championship game and then a bowl game, I might not care a whole lot about a season-ender in Durham.

2. Missouri plus-22 at Texas A&M. The Tigers clearly didn't ooze with confidence versus the traditional SEC powers, but they know for a fact they can play with the Aggies. Again, they won in College Station in 2011 and 2010. Come to think of it, some of them must be pretty ticked off at having to travel there three years in a row.

One More Thing

It has been a brutal season for the Big Ten, and everyone knows it. The best thing the league has going for it, unbeaten Ohio State, can't even play in the league championship game, let alone in a BCS game.

But somebody in this bad conference has to be the worst. And — relatively speaking — that "worst" is Michigan State.